Call for Collaborative Research Projects on the Brain

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: 

• Investigators must be affiliated with and conduct research at an eligible Canadian institution, as defined by CIHR, for the full duration of the grant. 

• The principal investigator must be based at a research institution in Quebec (university and affiliated hospital, research institute, public research center). They must work in close collaboration with at least one other independent researcher working in a research institution in another Canadian province or territory, as well as with at least one Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Please note: College Centers for the Transfer of Technology [CCTT] and public laboratories funded by the federal government (such as the NRC) are not eligible to serve as the host institution, but team members and collaborators from these institutions may receive up to 50% of the total budget as sub-sites. 

• Investigators must be considered an independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their research group; has full control of their research funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees (if applicable, as per their institution’s policy). Postdoctoral fellows or adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply. 

Eligible Projects: 

• Research teams must include a minimum of two independent researchers, one from a research institution in Quebec and one from a research institution in another Canadian province or territory. • R&D projects with biopharmaceutical industrial impact applicable to neuroscience, including the conduct of clinical studies. 

• The technology readiness level must be between 1 and 6 at the start of the project 

• Socio-economic benefits must be generated for all of Canada and for the company partners involved in the project. • At least two trainees (Master’s student, PhD student, and/ or postdoctoral fellow) must take part in the project. 

Summary

Brain Canada Foundation (Brain Canada) and CQDM are joining forces to support interprovincial collaborative biopharmaceutical research and development (R&D) projects on the brain. This partnership creates a unique funding opportunity that brings together experts from academia and industry to support the development of platforms, tools and biopharmaceuticals that will pave the way for new advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders.  

SCOPE AND RESEARCH AGENDA 

This CQDM and Brain Canada initiative specifically focuses on brain research relevant to biopharmaceutical applications. The intent of the initiative is to: 

• Increase research collaborations and partnerships between universities and companies in the life sciences industry in Quebec and other Canadian provinces and territories to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. 
• Foster technological maturation and industrial value creation leading to economic benefits for the project's stakeholders, Quebec and the rest of Canada. 
• Promote the knowledge, capabilities and new technologies developed in public institutions, and facilitate uptake by industry. 

Overhead

Not allowable as per policy statement. 

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

The combined financial support from CQDM and Brain Canada for eligible projects expenses will vary between 78-82% depending on the percentage of research expenses in Quebec versus outside of Quebec.  

In addition, at least one eligible Quebec SME must contribute to the funding with a cash contribution. The expected contribution of the SME may vary according to the proposed activities and financing structure, but may not represent less than 20% of eligible expenses in Quebec. In-kind contributions are not eligible for the matched funding calculation. 

• To be eligible, an SME must: o Have a significant participation in the project; 

o Have a place of business in Quebec, be legally constituted according to the federal or Quebec laws in force and be registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register; 
o Have R&D and/or production activities in Quebec; 
o Have 249 employees or less. A portion of the required funding may come from other sources, including Canadian and foreign companies, foundations or non-Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEIE) government contributions, such as federal grants offered by Mitacs. 

Steps for submitting an application: 

1. Contact Mathieu Paquette, Director - Business Development, Team Lead Québec, to validate the eligibility of your project and obtain the application form and budget template at the following address: mpaquette@cqdm.org. 

2. Submit a half-page non-confidential scientific summary (including the project title, the names and affiliations of the researchers, the total budget and the names of the company partners, as well as the amounts of their respective contributions) to the following address by August 8, 2024: appliquezapply@cqdm.org. 

3. Submit the completed application to appliquez-apply@cqdm.org by August 15, 2024. 

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Additional Resources 

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application